Starving Student: EJ's keeps it simple

It's the beginning of the month. With rent paid and your cellphone bill covered, some of us might be lucky enough to have a few measly dollars in our bank account.

Lucky for us, the range of cheap eateries in Chico is wide enough for us to conquer our hunger.

At EJ's Dogs & Subs, you can stretch your dollars just enough to walk out of there with both a sandwich and a large drink. With the temperature rising the thirst is often too real. One needs not to be parched for those excruciating summer days.

Located on 672 Mangrove Ave., the small eatery specializes in the all-American hot dog but also offers a variety of sandwiches. Although wieners are my forte, on this day my stomach was craving a chicken salad sandwich.

Chicken salad is one of my favorite eats in my household. It's a simple recipe with easy-to-find ingredients. It makes for a nice lunch whether it's on a sandwich or accompanied with some crackers. Plus there something fancy about it. Perhaps it's because of the term "salad" ... who knows?

On sourdough bread, this sandwich contained romaine lettuce, tomato slices, chicken and mayonnaise. From what my taste buds gathered, there was also a hint of garlic.

At a normal size, I did not leave hungry or full. It was just enough to get me through for a few hours.

If you have some extra dollars there are some sides which cost extra, like coleslaw or potato salad. You can also choose for an assortment of chips. I decided to quench my thirst with a Sprite. My total came to $6.54.

The gal behind the counter was very nice and did a good job providing me with the service I needed. After taking my order she provided me with a stamp card. You have the option to sit inside or outside. I chose to sit outside and enjoy the warm breeze on a nice day.

Don't be fooled by the dull decor. It is a bare minimum effort, a mellow-yellow paint job and a huge sign that consists of most of their menu hangs on their wall.

Sure, you can find similar deals in the same plaza provided by Safeway or Subway. But it's an inexpensive lunch and it's a good way to support a local business.

By supporting locally owned businesses we build a stronger community. Chain eateries get enough business elsewhere. Locally owned businesses enrich the community and help distinguish us.

Angel Huracha is a Chico State University student. Each week he's asked to find a meal that costs no more than $8 (one hour at minimum wage) and then write about it.